Kidnapped Arunachali businessman released on payment of Rs Five lakhs

ROING, Feb 7: An Arunachali businessman, kidnapped by five gunmen in Assam, was released yesterday after the ransom demand of Rs 5 lakh was paid. He was in captivity of unidentified gunmen for three days and two nights in the jungles of Sadiya sub-division of Assam.

An FIR has been lodged with the Superintendent of Police of Tinsukia district in Assam, and at the Roing Police Station. According to the complaint lodged, on February 2, the victim along with a friend were on their way to Tinsukia on a motorcycle bearing registration number AR-16/4871 when two unknown persons stopped them and took to an undisclosed location at gun point. They were later joined by a group of armed men. The friend was let free after being stripped of all his belongings, while the businessman was kept in captivity.


The kidnappers then took him to an ATM and asked him to withdraw all his money. Enraged at finding a meager balance in the account, the gunmen tortured the businessman through the night and demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakhs the next day from his wife at Roing and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid or if the matter was reported to the police.


Reacting to the incident, Unti Umbrey, President of All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU), recalling an earlier incident of an Arunachali swine dealer being beaten up by local people in Assam, termed both incidents as unfortunate. The latest incident of kidnapping and demand of ransom money may encourage other groups from Assam to adopt such tactics on Arunachali people to earn easy money, he cautioned.


The Union called for the issue to be explored and addressed through consultation at the inter-State ministerial level to avoid brewing of any hostility. It, however, warned that if prompt action was not initiated by the authorities, it would launch a mass agitation.


Calling for a peaceful solution, Tone Mickrow, AIMSU Chief Advisor, suggested peaceful dialogue amongst the communities living along the inter-State boundary for prevention of similar incidents.

Fifth governing body of ATMA held

AJAY SARING
ROING, Jan 5: The 5th Governing Board (GB) meeting of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Roing was held in the Office Chamber of Deputy Commissioner, Lower Dibang Valley District, Roing recently.

T. Ete, Agriculture Development Officer cum Coordinator, ATMA highlighted the detail activities and achievements of ATMA in different fields like district level farm training, field demonstration, information dissemination and field farm school taken up during the period from 2007-08 and 2008-09. He thanks the allied departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary, Fishery, Textile & Handicrafts and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) for their whole hearted support and participation for successful conduct of all activities taken up by ATMA.

T Tatak, PD DRDA suggested that SHG members taking up different activities should be actively involved in execution of activities under ATMA. Miss Nasia Mena, ADO cum BTT Convenor ATMA briefed the importance of Farm School in imparting modern farming techniques to the farmers. Jatan Pulu, Tokmin Perme and Israel Megu, GB Members actively participating in the meeting has sought the cooperation from all the members for effective and proper implementation of various schemes under ATMA in the district.

M Pertin, EAC presiding over the meeting as chairman expressed his happiness on the role played by the ATMA in disseminating information and imparting modern agriculture techniques to the farmers of the district and urged the implementing department to maintain the same spirit in future too. Altogether 14 GB members attended the meeting.

Pulu girls tops Miss Reh 2010 contest

ROING, Feb 3: Miss Lisa Pulu bagged the coveted title of Miss Reh 2010 which is held every year during the 3 days long Reh festival. Her younger sister Miss Anu Pulu became the 1st runner up and Miss Menuka Pulu, the 2nd runner up. With that Pulu girls came to top list in the competition beating other 11 participants.

The Reh festival which is celebrated every year from 1st to 3rd Feb, the beauty contest is one of the most popular event along with sports and literary activities. Sponsored by Muchu Mithi, son of former CM and Rajya Sabha MP Mukut Mithi, he gave away the cash prize of Rs 15,000/- to the winner of the title and Rs 6000/- to the 1st and 2nd runner up. The best designer award was bagged by Miss Julie Elapra winning a cash prize of Rs 5000/-.

Invited to the fashion show contest as Chief Guest, Mr Mithi also gave away the prizes for the sports event.

This year the festival attracted record number of foreign tourists from various European countries including the United States. The festival ended on the third day with night long camp fire.

On the first day of the festival, Takar Marde, Minister for PR&RD and Kamtok Lowang, MLA Khonsa was invited as Chief Guest and Guest of Honor respectively.

Delivering his message on the occasion, Mr Marde acknowledging the strong character of the Idus he appreciated the community’s pride in preserving their indigenous culture and recalled how history was testimony to the fact.

He donated a sum of Rs One Lakh to the celebration committee for the festival.

Appreciating the zeal of the festivity, Mr Lowang advised the young people of the community to preserve their language.

Earlier in the morning of the first day, the chief guest unveiled the statue of late Ita Pulu, former MLA commemorating his service to the community and for being the founding father of the Idu Mishmi’s general Reh festival. Mr Gote Mega, a law graduate from Delhi University who authored a book ‘The legends of Ita Pulu’ spoke on the contribution of the late leader.